Martell Watkins was holding a 1-year-old as he sold drugs to undercover cop, according to federal court records.

A three-time felon has added another black mark on his criminal record: bringing three kids to a drug deal, including a 1-year-old baby he carried in his arms, federal officials charge.

In a disturbing drug case unfolding in U.S. District Court, a Jackson man has been charged with selling heroin to an undercover officer -- a deal that ended with him getting arrested while he left a party store with a baby on his hip.

The defendant, Martell Watkins, 29, is expected to appear in U.S. District Court on Wednesday to face drug and gun charges stemming from a party store drug deal that landed him back in the criminal justice system. He is no stranger to the courts as he has three felony convictions -- all of them involving drugs.

His latest legal troubles involve an undercover operation that was detailed in a criminal complaint filed Friday in U.S. District Court.

According to the complaint, Watkins was arrested on April 28 after selling heroin twice to an undercover police officer who knew him as "Marvo." The first time was in March, when he sold one gram of blue heroin for $100; the second time was in April, when Watkins showed up at a party store in Jackson with a toddler in his arms, and a gram of heroin, court documents allege.

The undercover detective with the Michigan State Police Jackson Narcotics Enforcement Team had contacted Watkins on his cell phone to arranged the drug deal, which would take place at Tate's Party Store, records show. After the phone call was made, a surveillance team witnessed Watkins and three young children leaving the area of West Addison Street. It was about 7:30 p.m. Watkins was wearing a blue hoodie, records show.

When Watkins arrived at the party store with the kids in tow, the undercover officer handed him $120 in prerecorded cash to buy one gram of heroin, records show.

Watkins took the money and handed the officer a clear plastic baggie containing a light blue chunky substance, which later tested positive for heroin, records show.

Watkins was arrested and taken into custody as he left the store, during which he was carrying the 1-year-old child in his arms. The criminal complaint did not state whether Watkins was the father of the children, only that they were seen with him during the drug deal.

That same night, at 10:30 p.m., records show, a team of officers executed a search warrant at Watkins' house on West Addison Street, where they found a loaded gun under a bed, marijuana in a kitchen cupboard, five rounds of ammunition tucked in a box containing children's medication, and a clear plastic baggie containing suspected marijuana.

According to an affidavit filed by Special Agent Brian Beardsley of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firarems and Explosives, police also interviewed Watkins's wife, who lived at the house. She denied having any knowledge of any guns or drugs in her house. When asked if the gun was hers, she hook her head "no."

A criminal background check on Watkins revealed three felony convictions:

In 2005, he was twice convicted of delivering and manufacturing cocaine and heroin.

In 2006, he was convicted of the same crime, making it his third felony conviction.

As of Tuesday, there was no attorney of record listed for Watkins in court documents.